State of Deep-Sea Science and Conservation in the Northeast Pacific: Implications for Policy and Management

Authors

• Fanny Girard, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
• Joan M. Alfaro-Lucas, University of Victoria
• Amy R. Baco, Florida State University
• James P. Barry, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
• Katharine T. Bigham, University of Washington School of Oceanography
• Lara M. Beckmann, Sven Lovén Centrum för Marin Infrastruktur
• Angelika Brandt, Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum
• Lindsay Clark, University of Victoria
• Megan A. Davies, University of Victoria
• Jeffrey C. Drazen, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
• Anya Dunham, Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Cherisse Du Preez, University of Victoria
• Elva Escobar Briones, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
• Heidi Gartner, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Moronke K. Harris, University of Victoria
• Kristen N. Johannes, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Amanda Kahn, Moss Landing Marine LaboratoriesFollow
• Stefanie Kaiser, University of Lodz
• Brian R.C. Kennedy, College of Arts & Sciences

Publication Date

3-23-2026

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Progress in Oceanography

Volume

244

DOI

10.1016/j.pocean.2026.103718

Abstract

Spanning from the North American continent to the Hawaiian Ridge and from the Aleutian Ridge to the tip of the Baja California Peninsula, the deep Northeast Pacific (>200 m depth) hosts a high diversity of species and habitats. While relatively well studied in comparison to other regions, deep-sea ecosystems of the Northeast Pacific still hold many unknowns. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of deep pelagic and benthic ecosystems in the Northeast Pacific in the context of climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures. Regional trends in biodiversity, area-based management measures and research effort are synthesized to identify gaps in scientific knowledge, management and conservation. Based on the compilation of available literature and data extracted from open access databases, we found that scientific knowledge and research effort were unevenly distributed among habitats, with the most widespread habitats (e.g., abyssopelagic and abyssal plains, areas beyond national jurisdiction – ABNJ) being the most undersampled. Similarly, the distribution and level of protection of marine protected areas varied between countries and deep-sea habitat types, with virtually no protection in ABNJ. This review provides a comprehensive summary for scientists and managers, including recommendations on how to fill remaining scientific knowledge gaps, expand deep-sea observations to ABNJ and poorly known habitats, increase capacity for deep-sea research, improve data sharing and better support conservation and management. These recommendations aim to prioritize future research and improve sustainable management in alignment with the goals of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Funding Number

03G0293A

Funding Sponsor

Gulf Research Program

Keywords

Aleutian Trench, Area-based management, Benthic, Biodiversity, Deep ocean, Hawaiian Ridge, Pelagic

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Department

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Recommended Citation

Fanny Girard, Joan M. Alfaro-Lucas, Amy R. Baco, James P. Barry, Katharine T. Bigham, Lara M. Beckmann, Angelika Brandt, Lindsay Clark, Megan A. Davies, Jeffrey C. Drazen, Anya Dunham, Cherisse Du Preez, Elva Escobar Briones, Heidi Gartner, Moronke K. Harris, Kristen N. Johannes, Amanda Kahn, Stefanie Kaiser, and Brian R.C. Kennedy. "State of Deep-Sea Science and Conservation in the Northeast Pacific: Implications for Policy and Management" Progress in Oceanography (2026). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2026.103718